“唐宋”抑或“宋明”——文化史和思想史研究视域变化的意义

Tang-Song vs. Song-Ming: The Meanings of Perspective Shift in the Studies of Chinese Cultural and Intellectual History

在文化史与思想史研究领域里 ,是否可以将历来习惯于“唐宋”对比的方法 ,转向注重“宋明”连续的思路 ?这一研究视域变化的意义是 :把关注领域从仅仅围绕和瞩目于精英与经典 ,转为兼顾一般知识、思想与信仰世界 ;随着研究重心的转移 ,思想与文化的制度化、世俗化和常识化过程 ,将成为研究的重要历史脉络 ;研究思路从关注“创造性思想”的唐宋 ,到关注“妥协性思想”的宋明 ,会刺激文化史思想史研究的文献资料范围的更大拓展。这种视域或时段的改变 ,能引起文化史思想史研究的一些根本性改变。

Comparison of the Tang and the Song dynasties is a set-piece in Chinese cultural and intellectual history. Might it make more sense to emphasise the continuum stretching from the Song to the Ming dynasties? Such a shift may broaden a scholarly vision that has been confined to elites and the canon to cover common knowledge, ideas and beliefs. The institutionalization, secularization and popularization of ideas and cultures will serve as important paths for historical studies. And a shift of concern from “creative thinking' in the Tang and Song dynasties to “syncretic thinking' in the Song and Ming dynasties will expand the data pool of the field. It may stimulate fundamental changes in Chinese cultural and intellectual history.